I read this book after reading (and loving) The Da Vinci Code. This was such a disappointment, but mostly b/c I had already read TDC. If I reviewed this book based on it's own merits I would give it 4 stars; but after reading TDC this one feels lame and very formulaic - like Dan Brown was practicing for the TDC with Angels & Demons, polished it up and put out The Da Vinci Code. The characters are so similiar, the story takes place in Europe and has another religious theme. TDC is by far his better book and I'm glad I read it first!